Southern Israel birding notes – Mid March 2008

Migration is gaining momentum and birds are getting thick in the air and on the ground. "Crazy" March is raising its head, and towards mid month we received the year's first sandstorms and hazy, hot weather wave.

I am happy to bring you a summary of the significant sightings in the region in the past week.

March 12th started with an early morning session at the Meishar on road 40.

Although no major rarities were found it was a wonderful morning with many migrant passerines around. Besides a few Bar-tailed and Bimaculated Larks and 1-2 Asian Desert Warblers which were present for a few days we also found 3 Savi's Warblers, 1 Cetti's, several Reed Warblers, 3 Rueppells Warblers and many more common migrants.

On the 13th we headed for an afternoon session in the Yotvata area, we enjoyed the long staying White-tailed Plovers and had good views of some E. Bonnelli's Warblers (Balkan Warbler).

Towards the late afternoon we were at the Yotvata fields when we noticed good numbers of White Storks congregating in the sky. For the last 90 minutes of the day we were humbled by an awesome passage of around 12000 White Storks, 3000 Common Cranes in small groups and some nice groups of Black Storks. Lior Kislev was near the Yotvata sewage, just south of us and he too enjoyed the spectacle. The birds moved slowly against the red mountains till nearly last light and came down to roost south of Grofit.

The 14th was a sandy hot day; we had some steady birding but no big news.

On the 15th we again headed up to the Negev. At the Meishar good birds included now 11 Bimaculated Larks and 5 distant Temminck's Larks. At the Ovdat gorge we had great views of the resident Bonnelli's Eagle pair, including a bird in the nest. On the cliff across the canyon was also an active Griffon Vulture nest. In the Mitzpe Ramon area we found 4 Syrian Serins.

On the 16th we headed up to the Eilat mountains to follow up on a Menetrie's Warbler that was found the previous day. The bird showed quite well and we managed to get some pictures. After about 20 minutes of observation in the field and careful scrutiny of the pictures I came to the conclusion that the bird we were watching is a first spring male Sardinian Warbler of the ssp. momus. We will post a full page on this interesting bird in the near future.

Migration over the mountains was impressive with several thousand Steppe Buzzards, over 50 Steppe Eagles, single Lesser-spotted Eagles, Ospreys and Egyptian Vultures. That afternoon a Cyprus Wheatear was found near the Eilat cemetery, I had a group of 14 Temminck's Larks at Elifaz.

 A night tour at Yotvata produced no less than 3 Egyptian Nightjars and a nice Short-eared Owl.

On the 17th misty conditions settled in and sand swept over most of the valley, again making birding difficult. At K20 we found a single Ruddy Shelduck and at least 6 Greater Sand plovers.

On the 18th we started at the mountains and enjoyed nice views of the long staying Steppe Grey Shrike, now attaining summer plumage. Migration was quite weak due to the conditions so we headed back down to the valley. We had nice views of the long staying Crested Honey Buzzard hovering over the park, and also found 2 of the 5 wintering Olive-backed Pipits in the plantation.

On the 19th we started at K76 and although the area is extremely dry we still found 3 pairs of Bar-tailed Larks, 2 Crowned Sandgrouse and a distant flock of 19 Temminck's Larks in low flight over the desert. We continued to the Yahel sewage where there were 5 Indian Silverbill and a beautiful Cyprus Wheatear.

On the 20th Rony Livne found and photographed a smashing male Thick-billed Lark at the Meishar. On the 21st yet another Cyprus Wheatear was found at the K20 pools. This is the first spring for many years where so many Cyprus Wheatears are recorded.

Stay posted as the spring unfolds, many more good birds are yet to be found.

Enjoy the images, fresh from the field.

Jonathan Meyrav /// Lotan center for Birdwatching.

Contact info

Daphna Abell
Program Coordinator
lotan-programs@lotan.ardom.co.il
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